File-case



iNo Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

B..WIGHT. FILE CASE. No. 324,625. Patented Aug. 18, 1885.

(N5 Model.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 2.. E. B. WIGHT.

FILE CASE.

No. 324,625. Patented Aug. 18. 1885.

WITNESSES (No Model.) 3 SheetsSheet 3.

- E. B. WIGHT.

FILE CASE.

Patented Aug. 18, 1885.

W/T/VESSES EUGENE B. NIGHT, OF CHICAGO, ILLTNOIS.

FILE CASE.

SPEGIPICATION part of Letters Patent No. 324,625, dated August 18, 1855.

Application filed May 8, 1585. (No model.)

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EUGENE B. WIGHT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful lmprovementsin FileGases, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improved file-case or receptacle for books, papers, and other ebjects, constructed, as fully set forth hereinafter, so as to facilitate access to the contents and secure other advantages, as will be more fully described.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved case, illustrating one mode of constructing and supporting the-same. Fig. 2 is an edge view of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing one arrangement of the improved case in connection with an oflice table or desk. Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the case mounted upon a frame supporting an adjustable leaf or table. Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing the case arranged within a portable closet. Fig. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a double case in connection with a double desk. Fig. 7 is a face view illustrating one mode of closing the compartments of the case. Figs. 8, 9, and 10 are perspective views illustrating different means for confining the papers within the boxes or drawers carried by the case. Fig. 11 is a front view of a table and case illustrating a modification. I

My improved file-case is provided with or 3 5 consists of a receptacle which may be square, hexagonal, octagonal, or cylindrical in form, acylindrical case, A, being illustrated in Figs. 1 to 10, and a semi-cylindrical case being shown in Fig. 11 of the drawings, and in con 40 nection with this case I use a support, B, and an axle, pins, trunnions, or other support, whereby the case may be held to revolve freely, preferably in a vertical plane upon horizontal trunnions extending from or into the case. The character of the support will vary according to the purpose for and situa tion in which the case is tobe employed.

\Vhen the case is intended as a file-case for office use, the support in many instances is part of the frame of a desk or writingtable.

Thus in Fig. 3 the office-table K is shown as provided at one end with a frame constituting the support B, and supporting that end of the table as well as the case A, the frame consisting of standards or uprights a and connecting cross-bars b b.

The trunnions c c of the case, as shown in Figs. 1 to 10, are arranged axially to project from opposite sides, and the support B is provided with suitable metallic bearing-pieces, d, in which the trunnions turn so as to permit the case to be revolved freely.

7 Where the case is not required to be permanently connected to a desk or table, the frame B is separate from the table, as in Fig. 4, but can be set at one end of the table or elsewhere, as desired, and the separate frame may be made of upright and cross pieces, as before stated, and shown in Figs. 3 and 4; or it may consist of ornamental side pieces connected by cross-strips and supported on casters, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. In other in stances the support may constitute a closet, M, within which the case is arranged as shown in Fig. 5, the face of the case being either exposed or covered by movable doors N N, as

shown.

The case is divided into compartments, and is of suitable depth to contain the articles to be stored. Where access is only desired from one end or head of the case, asin the construction shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, the case is provided with one closed end and compartments at one end only; but where access is required from both ends of the case the case either has a central partition, with compartments at both ends, or, as shown in Fig. 6, two cases revolve end to end on the sameaxis. This arrangement is specially adapted for use with a double table, as shown, the case being hung within a central opening of such table.

The character of the compartments will vary with the use to which the case is to be put, in some instances they will be more pigeonholes or shelves, as shown in Figs. and 6, the doors N N of the closet serving to close the entire casein the construction shown in Fig. 5, and the receptacles being exposed and uncovered in the construction shown in Fig. 6.

\Vhen it is desired to close the receptacles and not to use an inclosingcloset, the case is provided with hinged doors h, some of which are hung to swing upon radial lines and others on lines at right angles to the radial lines,

as shown in Fig. 7; This causes each door to swing on a vertical line as said door is brought to an accessible position.

In order to permit the receptacles to be varied in size, the same may be formed of removable partitions n, Fig. 6, fitting grooves in the end supports, so that the partitions may be changed in position to increase or diminish the sizes of the receptacles. In other instances the receptacles are constructed to receive removable drawers or file-boxes E, as shown in Figs. 1, 3, 4, which may be of any of the usual or suitable constructions.

It is of course desirable, when movable boxes or drawers are used, that each box or drawer shall be as nearly horizontal as possible when it is in position to be drawn out for access. As the case revolves, and the drawers or boxes can not all be horizontal at one time, I divide the case into compartments by partitions m, and subdivide these compartments to form the receptacles. These compartments are arranged so that all the boxes or drawers in each shall be as nearly horizontal as possible when the said compartment is in position to be best accessible. Thus when the case is part of a desk it is preferably subdivided by four partitions, m, into four segmental compartments, and the drawers or boxes-are arranged in each so as to be horizontal when such compartment is nearest the occupant of the desk.

Inorder to prevent the accidental turning of the case when a drawer is out, and to pre vent disarrangement of papers, &c., I use a suitable detent to hold the case after adjustment. Various kinds of detents may be used. One consists ofa bolt, H, sliding in part of the bearing 01, Figs. 1, 2, 3, so as to be moved into any one of a series of openings, 00, corresponding in number to the number of positions in which the case may be fixed. In other instances the openings 00' maybe in the periphery of the ease, as in Fig. 4, the bolt H being arranged near the periphery or a spring-catch or friction-detent may be used.

When the case is cylindrical in form, it is peculiarly adapted to facilitate the safe storage of the contents, as it may be lifted off its bearings and then rolled upon its edge to a fire-proof vault, thisoperation being effected with case, however heavy may be the contents. It is not essential in all cases. to remove the trunnions from their bearings, as the frame or support may be constructed to fold up from below the case. Thus the sides of the frame may be hinged to the side pieces, I), at y y, Fig. 4, and may be turned up to vertical positions, as shown in dotted lines in Fig.4, and the case then rolled to its position.

As the turning of the case renders it desirable to hold the contents in place in their receptaeles, I provide for this by using an adjustable cover, F, with each receptacle. This cover may be held on the contents of the receptacle by springs s s, as shown in Fig. 9, or by spring-bolts t t, engaging with racks to at the sides of the receptacles, as in Fig. 10; but I prefer to use asliding cover, Fig. 8, adapted to a series of parallel grooves in the sides of the receptacle, so that the cover can be slid into any pair of grooves in such position as to confine the contents tightly in place without interfering with ready access to the same when required. 7

Boxes, cases, platforms, &c., may be combined with the support for the revolving case. Thus a leaf, M, may be hinged to the support, as shown in Fig. 4, toggle-braces M serving to hold it in a horizontal position. Boxes or cases M may be arranged on the support, or the latter may be provided with drawers J, as shown in Figs. 3 and 6.

The drawers or file-boxes may be provided with locks, either key-locks or spring-locks, the latter being specially shown in Fig. 10, in which the spring-shank i of the catch to is exposed through an opening, 1), to permit the finger to be put upon the same to depress it.

In some instances the case A may be semieylindrical, so that in one position it extends above the desk, and in the reverse position it presents a flat surface flush with the desk-top, as shown in Fig. 11.

I am aware that cylindrical file-eases having openings or drawers in the periphery thereof are old, and I do not claim such a construction. My invention differs therefrom in that the openings are in the heads of the drum -like or tubular case. The advantages of openings in the head over other constructions are numerous, and among them the following may be noted: I

By the opening in the. headthe entire cubical contents of the cylinder are made available for chambers or compartments of uniform depth and uniform shape, (right angled, for instance,) whereas, if right-angled drawers or compartments are arranged in the periphery of a cylinder of the same diameter, some of the drawers or compartments will be very long and the back portions of them unavailable and IIO practically of no value, while other drawers or eompartments will be short and so small as to be of little value; or, if the drawers or compartments are of uniform length, much space will be wasted. 1

In the openings from the head, on the other hand, as provided in my invention, the drawers or compartments are all of uniform length and of uniform height, while, practically, every inch of the cubical contents of the cylinder is o. A desk, table, or case provided with a frame having bearings, in combination with a tubular or drum-like file-case supported by said bearings to rotate freely and with receptacles at the end or head, substantially as described.

4. The combination of the revolving tubularor drum-like file-case having receptacles at the end and movable drawers or boxes adapted to said receptacles and provided with adjustable covers, substantially as described.

5. The revolving tubular or drum-like filecase having its head subdivided by partitions, in combination with a detent for securing itin position after adjustment, substantially as described.

EUGENE B. WVIGHT.

XVitn esses:

J. J. MoOARTHY, 4 A. E. T. HANsMANN. 

